Get Involved

Here at Staf we have many ways for people with care experience to get involved.

Youth Justice Voices
If you are aged between 16 and 25 and have experience of the care and justice systems and want to use your experience to make real changes then why not join Youth Just Us. The steering group meets online and in person on Monday evenings and uses creative ways to influence policy and practice change. Click here to find out more.

The Real Toolkit
The Real Toolkit is an online resource created for and by care experienced people and the workforce who support them. We are looking for new members of our advisory group so if you are aged over 16 with care experience then please get in touch with [email protected] You can check out The Real Toolkit here.

Project Return
Project Return is our care experienced group which focuses on issues of overcoming trauma. Although the project is coming to an end soon we are hoping to continue its work. The Catalysts, members of the project, are holding a Care Experienced Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub on the 29th September at the Renfrew Centre, Glasgow. It's free to attend and you can find out more and sign up here.

Care Leavers Forum & Cross Party Group
If you are interested in influencing change in the political and policy sphere then our Care Leavers' Forum is for you. Open to anyone aged 16+ with care experience the forum meet regularly to discuss issues affecting their lives and policy changes they would like to promote. The current focus of the Forum is on finance, education and mental health, issues which have fed into the workplan of the newly established Cross Party Group on Care Leavers, of which Staf are secretariat. The CPG meets throughout the year and is always looking to have representation from those with care experience.

If you would like to join the Care Leavers' Forum please email [email protected]

If you would like to become a member of the Cross Party Group please email [email protected]

The National Leadership Network (NLN)
Staf is the lead host of the NLN, working alongside our partners at Who Cares? Scotland, Columba 1400, Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the Resilience Learning Partnership and the NLN team which is funded by the Life Changes Trust legacy. The NLN is led by the advisory group of care experienced people and focuses on providing opportunities for those with care experienced aged 14+. They are often looking for individuals who want to join this exciting project which focuses on leadership, in all its guises, and providing opportunities for care experienced people to learn new skills, make new connections and take ownership of their lives. Click here to find out more or email [email protected]

Latest

Youth Justice Voices Members Share Experiences of Legal Support in new study

Youth Justice Voices was commissioned to lead on participation and engagement of Clan Childlaw's study on Legal Support for children and young people in conflict with the law. The study and its findings make for important reading.
NLN recruitment

Job opportunity for care experienced induvial aged 14+
The Real Toolkit is 1

The Real Toolkit has reached its first birthday! Project lead, Katrina Gallagher shares her thoughts on the past year and thanks all those who have made the Toolkit what it is.
Understanding the rights of children and young people in conflict with the law

Young people with care and justice experience in collaboration with Staf and our Partner's at Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) have produced a Whole Systems Approach guidance for children and young people in conflict with the law.

The Real Toolkit is 1

The Real Toolkit has reached its first birthday! Project lead, Katrina Gallagher shares her thoughts on the past year and thanks all those who have made the Toolkit what it is.
Be Part of Youth Just Us

We're looking for new members of Youth Just Us. Find out more about what being involved means and the many opportunities available.
Youth Justice Voices response to Children's Care and Justice Bill

A small number of care and justice experienced young people from Youth Just Us and Inside Out responded to the Children's Care and Justice Bill. We share a summary of their views.
Youth Just Us Mural Trail

Youth Just Us were treated to a private tour of the Yard Works Festival 22 murals at SWG3. Check out some of the amazing artwork in our gallery.
The Response to the Independent Review of Children's Social Care in England

The eagerly awaited Independent Review of Children's Care in England has received a mixed response. In this article we've selected a wide range of thoughts, both glowing and not so glowing.
The Response to the Independent Review of Children's Social Care in England

The eagerly awaited Independent Review of Children's Care in England has received a mixed response. In this article we've selected a wide range of thoughts, both glowing and not so glowing.
Inside Out Needs You - Please Vote

Inside Out are looking for your support to win the People's Choice Award at this year's SCVO Charity Award and here we tell you why they should get your vote.
National Leadership Q & A

We caught up with Gary Brown and Lisa O'Leary to find our more about the National Leadership Network and the plans for the months ahead.
Insight into Inside Out

Inside Out lead Ruth Kerracher shares her insights into this ground breaking project.
A busy start to 22 for Youth Just Us

Youth Just Us Participation Consultant Kevin Lafferty shares what the steering group have been working on since the start of the year including exciting news about what's coming up next.

Young Funder's Grant

Applications for the Young Funder's Grant are now closed. Alternative sources of funding are included here.
The Promise explained: what the Care Review means for the workforce

Scotland’s Independent Care Review has published its final conclusions. Five reports have been published and the main report ‘The Promise’ runs to 124 pages. To keep our members informed, we will set out the conclusions in a series of brief summaries.
Local Elections 2022: Manifesto Round-Up

A look at the five main parties and their manifestos heading into the local elections 2022
Grants of up to £750 available to care experienced young people

We are delighted to announce our Young Funder's Grant is now open for applications.
Relationship Based Practice: What does it really look like?

Mary Glasgow facilitated one of our workshops at our Annual Conference 2017, setting out the principles of a restorative, child-centred and family-minded approach that aims to mitigate the effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Find out more and download Mary's presentation.
Our history

Find out more about Staf's history, and the exciting work we are undertaking today.
GIRFEC: A Guide to Getting it Right for Every Child

GIRFEC (or Getting it Right for Every Child) is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time for the right people. Find out more about the GIRFEC approach.
Shannon's Box

Created by Shannon when in role as our Youth Facilitator, Shannon's Box is designed to make entering care a little easier for children and young people. Find out more about this project.
Implications of Continuing Care Report

Staf has been working as part of a consortium of colleagues from across the sector which has been meeting about the implementation of Continuing Care. Following our Implications of Continuing Care focus group in February 2018, we produced a report looking at the issues and the good practice taking place across Scotland.
Care-Experienced Voice

Staf has always had the voice of care-experienced young people at its heart. From the Debate Project to Project Return, The Real Toolkit and Youth Justice Voices our young people's voices have always influenced our work. Find out more about the voice of care-experienced young people.